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Hugh Jackman Admits Russell Crowe Was Almost ‘Wolverine’

It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Logan/Wolverine but Australian actor Hugh Jackman. However, Jackman recently admitted that the adamantium claws almost went to another scruffy Australian: Russell Crowe. In fact, the Gladiator star helped Jackman get the role, according to Yahoo.

Speaking with Triple M 104.9FM, Jackman gives Crowe all the props for the Wolverine gig, which propelled him to his own stardom. ”Bryan Singer asked Rusty [Crowe] to do Wolverine, and he said, ‘Nah mate I’ve just done ‘Gladiator‘, it’s not for me but you should look at this guy…’ ”

He continued:

”He’s [Crowe] a great guy in every way, I have so much time for him and to watch him work, everyone says he is a great actor, when you actually get to work with someone like that… He’s that good when it matters, in that moment, in that close up tough moment, you just sit back and watch you know someone’s got that confidence and is going to deliver. I learned a lot from him.”

Jackman has held the role of Wolverine since 2000’s X-Men, following-up with sequels X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand. Jackman reprised his role in the prequel/spin-off X-Men Origins: Wolverine and had a short cameo in X-Men: First Class. He will don the claws once again for The Wolverine due out in July 2013.

Interestingly, Jackman and Crowe co-star in 2012’s Les Miserables where they will put their pipes to the test as nemeses Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, respectively. Also interestingly, Dougray Scott was actually cast as Wolverine for X-Men before pulling out in favor of Mission Impossible II.

Could you picture Russell Crowe as Wolverine? Also, they call him “Rusty” in Hollywood?